A handful of London hotels share the “Royal” name, but their prices, locations, and guest experiences couldn’t be more different. This practical comparison covers four distinct properties—from the budget Royal National Hotel in Bloomsbury to the five-star Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street—with verified facts on pricing, transport links, and documented celebrity connections drawn from hotel booking platforms, editorial reviews, and travel industry sources.

Last checked: 2026-07-17

Royal National Hotel: Bloomsbury, 38-51 Bedford Way WC1H 0DG, 3-star, parking limited · Hotel Caf\u00e9 Royal: West End, 5-star luxury, contemporary elegance · Royal London Hotel: Hammersmith, 3-star, 5-storey building, central quiet area · Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge: near Tower Bridge, spa, pool, modern amenities

Snapshot: four Royal-named London hotels

1 Hotel Café Royal

• 5-star luxury on Regent Street, steps from Piccadilly Circus Underground Station, with spa and indoor pool (Hotels.com)

2 Royal National Hotel

• Large budget-to-midrange hotel in Bloomsbury, one minute from Russell Square station; basic rooms at €111–€273 per night (Hotels.com)

3 Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge

• Modern hotel near Tower Bridge with spa, pool, and contemporary amenities (Hotels.com)

Quick facts: Royal-named London hotels

Hotel	Key details
Royal National Hotel	Bloomsbury, 38-51 Bedford Way WC1H 0DG, 3-star, parking limited
Hotel Café Royal	West End, 5-star luxury, contemporary elegance
Royal London Hotel	Hammersmith, 3-star, 5-storey building, central quiet area
Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge	Near Tower Bridge, spa, pool, modern amenities
Royal National Hotel nearest tube	1 minute walk from Russell Square station
Royal National Hotel price range	€111–€273 per night
Royal London Hotel star rating	3-star accommodation in Hammersmith

Where is the Royal London Hotel?

The Royal London Hotel (officially Royal London Hotel By Saba) is a three-star property in a quiet, central area of Hammersmith, west London. The hotel occupies a five-storey building at 172 Shepherd’s Bush Road, roughly 5 kilometres west of central London’s West End. Guests can reach the area via Hammersmith or Shepherd’s Bush Underground stations on the District, Piccadilly, and Central lines.

The neighbourhood around Hammersmith offers more residential calm and fewer landmark attractions than Bloomsbury or the West End, though transport connections are frequent. The trade-off: lower nightly rates in exchange for a longer commute to central sights such as the British Museum or the West End theatres. One reviewer on TripAdvisor described the location as “convenient for public transport but quiet at night,” which suits some budget travellers while disappointing others seeking a more central base.

Neighbourhood around Hammersmith

Hammersmith’s main draw is its Tube connectivity: the District and Piccadilly lines run direct to Heathrow Airport, central London, and the City. The area contains several chain restaurants and the large Westfield shopping centre in nearby Shepherd’s Bush. For guests specifically seeking the Natural History Museum or South Kensington’s museum district, the journey from Hammersmith involves a change onto the Piccadilly line at Earl’s Court—about 20 minutes total. No direct walking route from the hotel to those museums exists that would be practical (roughly 4.5 kilometres).

Where do most celebrities stay in London?

Hotels cited most consistently in celebrity-stay coverage include the Athenaeum Hotel, Hotel Café Royal, and properties associated with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Kim Kardashian. According to a Condé Nast Traveller review, Hotel Café Royal “has historically been associated with high-profile and celebrity guests, with travel coverage often describing its clientele as including actors, musicians and fashion figures.” The building’s past life as the historic Café Royal—a meeting place for artists such as Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley—lends it a cultural cachet that budget Royal-named hotels lack.

Coverage of Taylor Swift’s London stays points toward properties such as Claridge’s and The Langham, both of which appear on royal- and celebrity-stay lists compiled by travel outlets. YouTube travel creator Resort 2 Travel lists The Goring, The Langham, the Milestone Hotel, and Rubens at the Palace as hotels with documented royal or political associations, including frequent stays by Queen Elizabeth II at The Goring (Resort 2 Travel).

Where does Leonardo DiCaprio stay?

Specific documented London stays for Leonardo DiCaprio are not available in the sources reviewed. General travel journalism often names The Goring, The Ritz, and Claridge’s as high-profile guest favourites, but no source in this research provides a confirmed DiCaprio booking at any Royal-named London hotel. Any claim otherwise would be speculation.

What is the nearest tube station to the Royal Garden Hotel?

The Royal Garden Hotel is a separate property from the Royal-named hotels covered in this comparison, but its transport link illustrates a broader pattern: London hotels carrying “Royal” naming tend to cluster near major Tube lines. According to Hotels.com data, the Royal National Hotel is one minute’s walk from Russell Square station on the Piccadilly line, giving direct access to Heathrow Airport, the West End, and King’s Cross St Pancras.

For comparison:

• Royal National Hotel → Russell Square (Piccadilly line): 1 minute walk
• Hotel Café Royal → Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly & Bakerloo lines): 2-minute walk
• Royal London Hotel → Hammersmith (District, Piccadilly, Hammersmith & City, Circle lines): 8-minute walk
• Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge → Tower Hill (District & Circle lines): 5-minute walk

The pattern: all four Royal-named properties sit within five minutes of at least one Underground station, making none of them difficult to reach via public transport. The trade-off is between immediate central access (Hotel Café Royal) and budget-friendly proximity to the network’s outer zones (Royal London Hotel).

The Royal Hotel London Options Compared

Because “Royal” appears in the names of multiple London hotels serving very different guest profiles, a direct comparison helps clarify what each property actually offers. The table below summarises the four options side by side.

Hotel Name	Location & Neighbourhood	Star Rating	Price Range (per night)	Key Feature	Celebrity Connection
Hotel Café Royal	Regent Street, West End	5-star	Luxury tier (often £400+)	Spa, indoor pool, multiple restaurants	Historic artists & modern celebrity clientele
Royal National Hotel	Bloomsbury, near Russell Square	3-star	€111–€273	High room capacity, budget-friendly	None documented in sources
Royal London Hotel By Saba	Hammersmith, west London	3-star	Budget (under £100 typical)	Compact rooms, quiet area	None documented in sources
Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge	Near Tower Bridge, Southwark	4-star	Mid-range to upper-mid (£130–£250)	On-site spa and swimming pool	Modern business & tourist clientele

Royal National Hotel (Bloomsbury)

The Royal National Hotel is a very large, budget-to-midrange property at 38-51 Bedford Way in the Bloomsbury district. Hotels.com describes it as a property that “markets itself on value and scale more than luxury,” with 1,500+ rooms and basic amenities. Guest reviews on Hotels.com frequently mention its size and functional rooms, contrasting the experience against more upmarket central London options.

Hotel booking data shows a typical nightly rate range of €111 to €273. The hotel has limited on-site parking, which one reviewer described as “minimal and expensive.” For travellers arriving by Tube, Russell Square station is the recommended access point. The British Museum lies a 10-minute walk away, putting the hotel within reach of several major attractions despite its no-frills positioning.

Café Royal Hotel (West End)

Hotel Café Royal sits at 68 Regent Street, between Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus—arguably the most central location of any Royal-named hotel in London. Condé Nast Traveller’s editorial review calls it “one of the best hotels in London,” emphasising its “grand historic public spaces” and “serious spa facilities” (Condé Nast Traveller). An on-site spa and indoor pool place it in the full-service luxury tier that the Royal National and Royal London Hotel simply do not compete in.

Expedia’s listing notes that Hotel Café Royal’s position on Regent Street makes it “significantly more central than other London hotels that simply have ‘Royal’ in their name” (Expedia). That geographic advantage—combined with its five-star rating and historic pedigree—is the primary factor separating it from budget Royal-branded properties. Nightly rates at Hotel Café Royal typically start above £400, with suites frequently exceeding £1,000.

Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge

The Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge occupies a location near Tower Bridge in Southwark, offering 4-star accommodation with an on-site spa, swimming pool, and modern business facilities. Hotels.com lists it as a mid-range to upper-mid option, with typical rates between £130 and £250 per night. Its “Royal” naming reflects the Leonardo Hotels chain’s branding convention rather than any specific royal association. Guests looking for a modern hotel with pool access and a central South Bank location may prefer this to the more traditional properties in Bloomsbury or Hammersmith.

Royal London Hotel (Hammersmith)

Royal London Hotel By Saba is a small budget hotel ranked in the lower middle of its category on TripAdvisor. Mixed user reviews praise the price and location while criticising “very small rooms, noise and limited amenities,” according to TripAdvisor. Its positioning as a budget property rather than a “royal” luxury stay is consistent across multiple reviewer comments. The hotel’s three-star rating and west London location make it a functional option for cost-conscious travellers, but it does not compete on amenities, central location, or celebrity appeal.

What is the most expensive hotel in London, UK?

According to the inputs reviewed, the most expensive London hotel suites often exceed £1,000 per night. However, no single named property is priced in the research dataset—the figure serves as a benchmark for the luxury tier rather than a claim about a specific hotel. Properties like The Goring, The Ritz, Claridge’s, and Hotel Café Royal all inhabit this price bracket for suites, though standard rooms at those hotels often start lower.

The Goring holds a unique distinction: it is the only hotel in the world with a Royal Warrant from the British Royal Household, granted in 2013 (Luxury London). That official recognition from the monarch separates it from every other hotel that simply uses “Royal” in its name. While Hotel Café Royal competes with the Goring on price and prestige, neither the Royal National Hotel nor the Royal London Hotel By Saba operate in that price stratum.

Best for segments

Budget travellers looking for central London

The Royal National Hotel in Bloomsbury represents the strongest option in this category. Its 3-star rating, room capacity, and proximity to Russell Square station make it suitable for school groups, student travellers, and anyone prioritising location cost over luxury. The €111–€273 price range keeps it below most central London competitors.

Luxury West End visitors

Hotel Café Royal is the clear choice for luxury travellers who want a “Royal” name attached to a five-star experience. Its location on Regent Street, spa facilities, and multiple restaurants place it in direct competition with The Ritz and Claridge’s rather than with other Royal-named budget properties.

Couples seeking romance and elegance

Hotel Café Royal also suits couples, with Condé Nast Traveller describing its “contemporary bedrooms” and historic public spaces as appropriate for a special-occasion stay. The indoor pool and Oscar Wilde Lounge—named after the hotel’s most famous historical patron—add to the sense of occasion.

First-time London visitors wanting iconic location

For first-time visitors to London who want to be in the heart of the West End, Hotel Café Royal is the only Royal-named option that delivers immediate proximity to Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, and the West End theatres. The Royal National Hotel offers a less glamorous but still walkable alternative at a fraction of the price.

Sample one-day itinerary: visiting four Royal-named hotels in London

For travellers interested in comparing these properties in person, the following route links all four by Tube and foot, covering roughly three miles and requiring one change.

• 10:00 – Royal National Hotel, Bloomsbury (Russell Square, Piccadilly line). Walk past the hotel entrance at 38-51 Bedford Way, then visit the British Museum (5-minute walk).
• 11:30 – Hotel Café Royal, West End (Piccadilly Circus, Piccadilly line, 15-minute Tube journey). Exit the station and walk 2 minutes to the hotel’s entrance on Regent Street. Consider afternoon tea at the Oscar Wilde Lounge if budget allows.
• 13:30 – Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge (Tower Hill, District line, 10-minute Tube journey). Walk along the South Bank past Tower Bridge, then explore the hotel’s restaurant or use its lobby as a vantage point.
• 15:00 – Royal London Hotel, Hammersmith (Hammersmith, District line, 15-minute Tube journey). View the five-storey building at 172 Shepherd’s Bush Road before returning to central London.

The takeaway: you can see all four properties in a single day using public transport, and the journey itself illustrates the sharp differences in location, neighbourhood character, and price tier that the names alone obscure.

“Let’s start with possibly the most famous royally-approved hotel: The Goring.”

– Luxury London editors, Travel and lifestyle journalists

“It is the only hotel in the world with a Royal Warrant and has welcomed virtually every member of the British Royal family through its doors over its 124-year history.”

– Luxury London editors, Travel and lifestyle journalists

For a detailed look at one of the most popular options, check out our guide to the Royal National Hotel London for reviews and location insights.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Royal National Hotel address?

38-51 Bedford Way, Bloomsbury, London WC1H 0DG. The hotel is a three-minute walk from Russell Square Underground station and roughly 10 minutes on foot from the British Museum.

Does the Royal National Hotel have parking?

Limited on-site parking is available but described as “minimal and expensive” in guest reviews. Hotels.com notes parking is limited. Travellers arriving by car should consider nearby public car parks or use public transport: Russell Square station is a one-minute walk.

What is the price range of the Royal National Hotel?

Recorded rates on Hotels.com range from €111 to €273 per night, depending on season and room type. That places it in the budget-to-midrange tier for central London hotels. Weekday rates tend to be lower; availability can be tight during school holiday periods due to the hotel’s large group-room blocks.

Can I walk to the Natural History Museum from the Royal London Hotel?

No practical walking route exists—the distance is roughly 4.5 kilometres (about 55 minutes on foot). The most efficient public transport option is to take the District line from Hammersmith to South Kensington, which takes 15-20 minutes including walking to the platform.

What is the most expensive hotel in London, UK?

Suites at London luxury hotels such as The Goring, The Ritz, Claridge’s, and Hotel Café Royal often exceed £1,000 per night. The Goring holds the unique distinction of a Royal Warrant from the British Royal Household.

Sources cited

• Condé Nast Traveller – Hotel Café Royal editorial review
• Expedia – Hotel Café Royal information
• TripAdvisor – Royal London Hotel By Saba reviews
• Luxury London – Hotels visited by the royal family
• Resort 2 Travel – London royal and celebrity hotels (YouTube)
• CafeMom – Royals’ favourite luxury hotels